UPDATE: Lido drowning victim identified

Published: Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 4:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, June 17, 2013 at 5:01 p.m.

Update

SARASOTA - Sarasota Police have identified the 19-year-old who drowned Sunday off Lido Key as Steeve A. Reserve. Reserve, who was from Haiti, had been staying with friends in Sarasota for several months, according to a police report.

Check back for more on this developing story.

Earlier

The identity of the 19-year-old drowning victim who was found Sunday off Lido Key has not been released due to difficulties reaching his family.

Genevieve Judge, a spokesperson for the Sarasota Police Department, said notifying the victim's relatives has proven more difficult than usual.

The victim advocate, who is tasked with alerting family members when a person dies, told Judge that she is having a difficult time locating the victim's father. Once the man's father is notified, the Sarasota Police Department will release the victim's identity.

EARLIER: The body of a 19-year-old missing swimmer was recovered 200 yards off of Lido Key Beach on Sunday morning, after his body was spotted by a police helicopter.

The Sarasota Police Department's dive team retrieved the body at 8:50 a.m. following a multi-agency search.

The man, who has not been identified by police, was said to be swimming off of Lido's southernmost beach around 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

While swimming back to shore, witnesses said, the man looked distressed before he slipped beneath the waves.

The area where the victim was swimming, called Big Pass, marks a 500-yard separation between Lido Key and Siesta Key.

Lido Key's public access to Big Pass is popular among locals but there are no lifeguard stations nearby. Signs dot the park warning beachgoers not to swim in the water.

Still, many wade in the waters to cool off, said Scott Montgomery, Sarasota County Emergency Services lifeguard manager.

“Those signs are posted for the safety of those folks coming to our beaches,” Montgomery said. “Swimming in a big body of water is different than swimming in your pool.”

The danger in swimming near Big Pass is not rip currents but tidal currents, Montgomery said.

While rip currents happen near the beach when two currents collide near the shore, tidal currents refer to the rush of water to and away from land when the tides shift. High tide on Saturday was at 5:17 p.m.

A Sarasota Police Department reported that the victim was swimming with another man Saturday night about 50 to 75 yards offshore when they became exhausted and decided to head back to the beach.

As the two swam, a boat came between them. Once it passed, the victim was seen struggling in the water, according to police.

A search for the man convened after his family called 911. Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and the Sarasota County Fire Department scoured the waters Saturday night, until turning the search over to the Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife at 9 p.m.

The Sheriff's Department resumed its search at 6:30 a.m. Sunday. A police helicopter spotted the body at 8:50 a.m.

Montgomery, who has been a lifeguard with Sarasota County for 23 years, said the fatality was one of only a handful of drownings near the Big Pass areas.

Regardless of frequency, he said it was important for beachgoers to take precautions and know how to react in similar situations.

“In these particular currents, just stay calm and ride it out,” Montgomery said. “Don't try to fight it. Once the current dissipates, and you feel the pulling stop, you can make your way back to the shoreline.”

<p class="bold allcaps">Update</p>
<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Sarasota Police have identified the 19-year-old who drowned Sunday off Lido Key as Steeve A. Reserve. Reserve, who was from Haiti, had been staying with friends in Sarasota for several months, according to a police report.</p><p><i>Check back for more on this developing story.</i></p><h3>Earlier</h3>
<p>The identity of the 19-year-old drowning victim who was found Sunday off Lido Key has not been released due to difficulties reaching his family.</p><p>Genevieve Judge, a spokesperson for the Sarasota Police Department, said notifying the victim's relatives has proven more difficult than usual.</p><p>The victim advocate, who is tasked with alerting family members when a person dies, told Judge that she is having a difficult time locating the victim's father. Once the man's father is notified, the Sarasota Police Department will release the victim's identity.</p><p>EARLIER: The body of a 19-year-old missing swimmer was recovered 200 yards off of Lido Key Beach on Sunday morning, after his body was spotted by a police helicopter.</p><p>The Sarasota Police Department's dive team retrieved the body at 8:50 a.m. following a multi-agency search.</p><p>The man, who has not been identified by police, was said to be swimming off of Lido's southernmost beach around 6:30 p.m. Saturday.</p><p>While swimming back to shore, witnesses said, the man looked distressed before he slipped beneath the waves.</p><p>The area where the victim was swimming, called Big Pass, marks a 500-yard separation between Lido Key and Siesta Key.</p><p>Lido Key's public access to Big Pass is popular among locals but there are no lifeguard stations nearby. Signs dot the park warning beachgoers not to swim in the water.</p><p>The red and white signs read: “Restricted area, dangerous currents, fishing only!”</p><p>Still, many wade in the waters to cool off, said Scott Montgomery, Sarasota County Emergency Services lifeguard manager.</p><p>“Those signs are posted for the safety of those folks coming to our beaches,” Montgomery said. “Swimming in a big body of water is different than swimming in your pool.”</p><p>The danger in swimming near Big Pass is not rip currents but tidal currents, Montgomery said.</p><p>While rip currents happen near the beach when two currents collide near the shore, tidal currents refer to the rush of water to and away from land when the tides shift. High tide on Saturday was at 5:17 p.m. </p><p>A Sarasota Police Department reported that the victim was swimming with another man Saturday night about 50 to 75 yards offshore when they became exhausted and decided to head back to the beach. </p><p>As the two swam, a boat came between them. Once it passed, the victim was seen struggling in the water, according to police.</p><p>A search for the man convened after his family called 911. Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and the Sarasota County Fire Department scoured the waters Saturday night, until turning the search over to the Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife at 9 p.m.</p><p>The Sheriff's Department resumed its search at 6:30 a.m. Sunday. A police helicopter spotted the body at 8:50 a.m.</p><p>The Sarasota Police Department's dive team recovered the body soon afterward. </p><p>Montgomery, who has been a lifeguard with Sarasota County for 23 years, said the fatality was one of only a handful of drownings near the Big Pass areas.</p><p>Regardless of frequency, he said it was important for beachgoers to take precautions and know how to react in similar situations.</p><p>“In these particular currents, just stay calm and ride it out,” Montgomery said. “Don't try to fight it. Once the current dissipates, and you feel the pulling stop, you can make your way back to the shoreline.”</p>